Peculiarities of Bachelor’s Dissertation

Definition

A Bachelor’s or undergraduate dissertation presents a full-scale investigation which results in an extended paper on a particular topic. As a rule, it’s done in the last year of a Bachelor’s program and its subject is the continuation of previous research endeavors. An intriguing topic that resonates with a student is of paramount importance when it comes to a successful piece of writing. Essentially, an undergraduate dissertation enables to get to the crux of a particular subject and push back the frontiers, so if students aren’t really passionate about it, their efforts will go down the drain. To help them dive in the murky waters of science, a supervisor, who provides help and guidance throughout the research process, is appointed.

Undergraduate Dissertation vs. Postgraduate Dissertation

There’s a wide array of differences between undergraduate and postgraduate papers. Firstly, a Bachelor’s dissertation is much shorter as it equals to around 10,000 – 15,000 words. Secondly, the rules concerning plagiarism percentage are more lenient than in a Master’s or Ph.D. dissertation. Thirdly, students aren’t expected to present groundbreaking ideas in their undergraduate dissertations as they merely cite the sources used and present critical evaluation of the subject. Lastly, young researchers’ usually focus on purely theoretical issues while their more seasoned counterparts are obliged to conduct a meticulous investigation including practical objectives.

Stages of Writing Bachelor’s Dissertation

• Choosing a supervisor. The procedure varies in different universities. Usually, a special meeting is organized so that students can meet knowledgeable scientific supervisors and choose the research area they’d like to study. Once the topic is selected, students can consult their supervisors regularly and report on their progress.
• Defining a topic. At the beginning of their final year of studies, students have to choose a scientific area that holds their interest. This would be further formulated in a topic of the study. It’s a crucially important stage as a poor choice of the topic might undermine the success of the research.
• Study outline. As soon as a Bachelor’s dissertation module starts, young researchers are asked to prepare a draft of their research outline with a brief summary of the chapters and a list of references. At this stage, with the help of their supervisors, students must decide on a narrow aspect of the research.
• Investigation and writing. Having completed a thorough investigation into the chosen topic, students have to start writing their papers. Universities set a deadline and the drafts of undergraduate dissertations must be submitted on time. Needless to say, this stage is critical as students should prepare everything in advance to have ample time for corrections after the supervisors check their papers.
• Proofreading and submission. Prior to handing in the final version of their dissertations, students must cast a critical eye on their papers to eliminate any typos or logical fallacies. The style should be consistent throughout the research and all sources must be cited appropriately.

In summary, an undergraduate dissertation presents students’ tentative yet virtually independent steps in the scientific field. Although it might be a daunting and pretty mind-boggling challenge, this will help students develop essential research skills and stand them in good stead for their postgraduate education.